Argyranthemum plant named G15101&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘G15101’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; large single-type inflorescences with dark yellow-colored ray florets and yellow orange-colored disc florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G15101’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Argyranthemum Plant Named ‘G15104’

Applicants: Irene E. Palmer & Michael S. Uchneat

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘G15101’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new Argyranthemumplants with attractive ray and disc floret colors, sterility and goodgarden performance.

The new Argyranthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Butterfly’, not patented. The newArgyranthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as asingle flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Butterfly’in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. in October,2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum plant by vegetative tipcuttings was first conducted in Bellefonte, Pa. on Nov. 17, 2014.Asexual reproduction by terminal vegetative cuttings has shown that theunique features of this new Argyranthemum plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Argyranthemum plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘G15101’ as a new anddistinct Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large single-type inflorescences with dark yellow-colored ray        florets and yellow orange-colored disc florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the mutationparent, ‘Butterfly’, in ray floret color as ray florets of the newArgyranthemum are darker yellow in color than ray florets of plants of‘Butterfly’.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of Argyranthemumfrutescens ‘G15104’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filedconcurrently, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of ‘G15104’.    -   2. Ray florets of the new Argyranthemum are darker yellow in        color than ray florets of plants of ‘G15104’.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants ofArgyranthemum frutescens ‘Vanilla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,642. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Argyranthemumdiffer primarily from plants of ‘Vanilla’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum have larger ray florets than        plants of ‘Vanilla’.    -   2. Ray florets of the new Argyranthemum are dark yellow in color        whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Vanilla’ are initially yellow        in color and become creamy white in color with development.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can also be compared to plants ofArgyranthemum frutescens ‘Butterfly Yellow’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Argyranthemum differprimarily from plants of ‘Butterfly Yellow’ in ray floret color as rayflorets of plants of ‘Butterfly Yellow’ are lighter yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Argyranthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Argyranthemum plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘G15101’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘G15101’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cmcontainers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and undercultural practices typical of commercial potted Argyranthemumproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. Plants were eleven weeks oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens ‘G15101’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Argyranthemum    frutescens ‘Butterfly’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one to two weeks at            soil temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            soil temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to            four weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to            five weeks at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; close to            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to            somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching growth habit with about            ten primary branches, each with about four to five secondary            lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 27            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 38            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 43 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong; young            stems, flexible. Aspect: Highly variable, about 15° to about            45° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Matte.            Color, developing: Close to 146C; at the internodes, close            to 146C. Color, developed: Close to 146B; at the internodes,            close to 146C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 5.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 5 cm.        -   Lobe depth.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Pinnatifid; in outline, elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate, equilateral.        -   Margin.—Deeply dissected with three to seven narrow lobes.        -   Sinuses.—Parallel.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter, flattened: About            5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Single-type terminal and            axillary inflorescences held above and beyond the foliar            plane on strong peduncles; ray and disc florets arranged            acropetally on a receptacle; inflorescences face mostly            upright to somewhat outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 132            inflorescence buds and open inflorescences per plant.        -   Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring to frost in            Pennsylvania; flowering continuous during this period;            plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about five to            seven days on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant, sour.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Spherical to slightly conical. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Involucral bracts, slightly            glossy; ray florets, matte. Color: Close to 7C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.3 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.8 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 1.7 cm. Receptacle height: About 5 mm.            Receptacle shape: Flat and shallow dome. Receptacle color:            Close to 146A, 146B to 146C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 20 arranged in about 1 to 1.25 whorls. Length: About            2.6 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded or            minutely tri-dentate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Aspect: Slightly upward; apices slightly recurved. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; shallow            longitudinal ridges. Luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 9A; venation, close to 9A; color becoming closer to            9B with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 9C; venation, close to 9C; color becoming            closer to 9D with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 270 spirally arranged in about 14 whorls at the center            of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Tubular with five free apical lobes. Apex: Acute.            Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,            inner and outer surfaces: Slightly glossy. Color, immature,            inner and outer surfaces: Close to 17A. Color, immature,            inner and outer surfaces: Close to 17A; venation, close to            17A; color does not change with development.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 25 arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 8 mm.            Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; edges, membraneous. Luster, upper surface:            Moderately glossy. Luster, lower surface: Matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to            146A to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.2 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 8.7 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About            2 mm. Angle: Terminal peduncle, curling upright; lateral            peduncles, about 45° to 55° from primary lateral axis.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth with shallow            longitudinal ridges, glabrous. Luster: Matte. Color: Close            to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: No stamens observed to            date. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets; one            per floret. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma diameter:            About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to            17A. Style length: About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to 2B.            Ovary color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Argyranthemum to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Argyranthemum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind    and to tolerate low temperatures about 1.7° C. and to be suitable    for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘G15101’as illustrated and described.